Removing sludge from holding tanks

[georgek]

Hi Peggie.

What suggestions do you have for removing built-up sludge from the inside of holding tanks, in particular, ones without clean-out ports? Are there any chemicals or additives that actually work? Thanks.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Hi Peggie. What suggestions do you have for removing built-up sludge from the inside of holding tanks, in particular, ones without clean-out ports? Are there any chemicals or additives that actually work? Thanks.

Plain water will do as much as any chemical. Chemical tank products kill all the bacteria needed to break down and emulsify (liquify) solids and TP, reducing sludge buildup. NON-chemical tank products help waste to break DOWN and emulsify (liquify) solids and TP, reducing sludge.

Eliminating sludge requires THOROUGLY flushing out the tank, which should be done at least 2-3x season, and especially in preparation for winter layup. That's done by pumping out, then putting several inches of water into the tank via the deck pumpout fitting--'cuz that sends the water into the tank at the bottom to stir up sludge and hold it in suspension so it can be pumped out...pump that out. Repeat...repeat...repeat...till you're pumping out clean water.

 

[Steve Dion]

You may want to try this stuff. We use it periodically in our system.

http://uniquemm.com/rv-amp-boat.html

 

[Johnb]

I have not tried it but is'nt there supposed to be an old trick of emptying it out, put in a couple of bags of ice and then go for a good rough sail.

 

[BobM]

I like it!

I have not tried it but is'nt there supposed to be an old trick of emptying it out, put in a couple of bags of ice and then go for a good rough sail.

Sounds great. I'll give it a try...only I'll add a surfactant to suspend everything and then call the pump out boat the minute I get back!

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

An old trick for cleaning the animal fats off the tank WALLS

I have not tried it but is'nt there supposed to be an old trick of emptying it out, put in a couple of bags of ice and then go for a good rough sail.

But bag ice won't do it..it melts too quickly. You need about 10 lbs of ice maker ice cubes...and you also need at least a half a tank of water and a couple of gallons of detergent to emulisify the fats. And while it does a decent job of cleaning the sides of the tank, that's not gonna put a half inch of mud into suspension and hold it long enough to pump more than about 10-20% of it out in one try.

The amount of effort and creativity y'all are putting into trying to come up with a way to avoid doing a little bit of work is mind boggling!

Btw, Steve...I seem to recall that you use Odorlos in your tank...if so, you don't need that RV "digester." It's only needed if toxic chemical products that kill all the bacteria are used in the tank. The naturally occurring bacteria in the waste "digest" it...enzymes are only needed to replace the naturally occurring bugs.